Fine Art & Fashion for Modern Life

Mesker Iron for the building addition

Many people right here in Evansville are not aware of the rich legacy the Mesker Brothers have left in large cities and small towns throughout the country. The Mesker name is familiar to most people here in the city as the name of Mesker Park Zoo. The brothers Mesker were very successful in the trade of Cast Iron storefronts and decorative ornamental iron and tin work. A merchant could order parts or whole facades to create a distinctive building from a plain one.

George Mesker Iron works was headquartered right here in Evansville, while his two brothers set up their business in St. Louis as the Mesker Brothers Iron Works.

I have been chasing old Mesker buildings for several years now – my wife might call it an obsession. Our first acquisition was an old opera house that was demolished in the train-stop town of Kensington, Kansas. Eight tons of columns, sills and lintels were shipped back home to Evansville.

Main Street, Kensington Kansas – 1918

Here is a view of 1918 Main Street in Kensington, Kansas.

The Opera house is on the far right hand corner of the intersection.

As in many cities around the country, almost none of these buildings exist today.

I am trying my best to salvage as many of the old George Mesker buildings – (the cast iron parts) as I can.

I will post more latter on two other buildings that we were able to salvage before the cast iron was lost.